JUST CALL ME THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT

Some days, I feel like I am the complaint department for the parish, the diocese, and the entire Catholic Church!

In the last month, I have had complaints about catechists teaching that abortion is murder; complaints that we expect the children AND their families to actually attend mass; complaints that we are rigid (WHAT does that even mean?); complaints that there are too many meetings; complaints that there are not enough meetings; complaints that each class must do an end of the year review; complaints that all I do is defend (again, WHAT does that mean?); and complaints that expecting Confirmation Candidates to fulfill a few requirements (a saint report, 4 service projects, 2 service reports, 10 mass reflection papers, and completion of information and sponsor forms over the course of an entire school year) on the journey, is asking too much...and...that it is not asking enough!

My all-time favorite complaint by far is this: "Exactly WHY does the sponsor have to be CATHOLIC? My sister-in-law is 'born again,' and she's a better Christian than you will ever be!"

(Well, that may be true; but if you want your child to be a baseball player you don't bring him to a basketball coach!! Is that really so difficult to understand?!?)

At times, I think that those complaining really believe that I personally make the rules, and sit up nights trying to come up with new and more tortuous ways to make their life difficult.

When the complaints begin, I usually take a breath and then begin the explanations that unfortunately at times simply fall on deaf ears.

Then I am told, "I don't know why I bother, all you do is defend!"

At times, I ask myself, "Why do I bother?"

And then I remember...

I bother because I care...because I believe that Jesus Christ took on human flesh to walk this earth to show ME the path to salvation.

I bother because I want to help others share in that salvation.

I bother because I believe that even with all the mistakes that have been made throughout the centuries, it is the Catholic Church that has immediate succession from Christ.

I bother because I worry about the immortal souls and the eternal life of us all.

I bother because Christ bothered to die for ME...AND...YOU!!

So then the question becomes: "If YOU say YOU believe, are YOU bothering, too?"

PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN

In two weeks, our Second Annual Summer Soccer Camp will begin. Earlier this month, we held two organizational meetings. We are blessed to have many talented and faith-filled volunteers. Many of whom, are public school teachers giving of themselves and their time over the summer, to help the children of our parish family gain new skills and insight.

There are many new faces this year, which is always wonderful.

Tonight, I will be holding a Virtus: Protecting God's Children training session, so we can place all our wonderful new volunteers with the children. For the most part, everyone willingly participates in these sessions...understanding, that while we are not part of the problem...it is in our power to be the solution.

At our last soccer meeting, however, one individual's displeasure at being required to take the training was loud and clear. I simply don't understand the reticence, reluctance, and seeming fears of impending doom, which surround the announcement that volunteers must attend ONE on-site session, to arm themselves with the information necessary, to keep our most precious gifts from God...OUR CHILDREN...safe!

We are all too familiar with the sins of the past in regard to pedophilia, in all institutions that serve children, including the Church. Why then, when a program is put in place to bring awareness to the problem, in the hope that not a single child more will suffer...do good people balk?

Isn't the health and well-being of a child more valuable than the few hours spent learning how to protect that child?

Is it fear of facing reality...seeing that the "bogeyman" looks just like us?

Is it fear of facing our own behaviors...recognizing the changes we must make in ourselves, in order to keep children safe?

Is it just anger at being put upon one more time for the sins of others?

Is it any or all of that...or something more?

I really don't understand, because to me, it is very simple...children have been hurt badly in the past...their innocence stolen away.

Children are being hurt right now in the present...their innocence stolen away.

Some have taken their own lives to escape the pain...some more, very likely, will take their own lives to escape the pain.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC!

WE MUST DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE THAT DYNAMIC!

The light has been shined on the darkness.

Why would some rather stay in the dark?


How about YOU?

What are YOU being required to do that makes YOU balk?

WHY IS THAT?

How are YOU going to reconcile YOURSELF to it?

LIFE IS LIKE A CUP OF COFFEE

So, how about YOU?

In YOUR life, is it the "coffee" or the "cup?"

Are YOU savoring YOUR "coffee," or struggling to get YOURSELF a better "cup?"

Are YOU coveting someone else's "cup?"

Whose?

Why?

Because YOU really need it, or because YOU just don't want THEM TO HAVE IT?

How are YOU going to change YOURSELF, so YOU can savor YOUR "coffee," without a second thought to someone else's "cup?"

THE LORD'S PRAYER

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Do YOU pray The Lord's Prayer each day?

Do YOU really understand what it is YOU are saying as YOU recite this prayer that Jesus taught us?

Do YOU really mean the words YOU are reciting?

Have YOU ever even given it a second thought?

Let's see, shall we?

Our Father who art in heaven...

Okay, that's simple enough, and a very basic belief in the Catholic Christian faith. We believe that God created each one of us, and we become his "adopted" children through Baptism in Jesus Christ. We believe God has His place in heaven.

So far...so good...right?

Let's continue:

...hallowed be thy name...

We believe that the Father's name is holy, and should only be spoken with respect and reverence.

Ruh roh...here we go..."Only Spoken With Respect And Reverence!"

How are YOU doing with that?

Do YOU only use God's name in praise, worship, petition, and thanksgiving?

Or, when YOU get angry do YOU use it as a curse against God, others, or things?

YOU just got done saying God's is a HOLY name.

YOU best be behaving like YOU mean it!

...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

We believe that the kingdom is here but not yet. That means that Jesus told us that because he walked the earth, the kingdom of God is here among us. It's not yet fulfilled ~perfect...complete... as it is in heaven ~ because we have not learned well the lessons Jesus came to teach.

The kingdom will be fulfilled on earth when we put our petty differences aside, and live in peace, love, and harmony. So, we pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven..." still, we haven't learned to live it, yet.

How are YOU doing with YOUR part of that?

Is it always the Father's Will or YOUR will, that YOU are most concerned about?

The kingdom can be fulfilled if we ALL do our part!

Give us this day our daily bread...

Do YOU really believe that God supplies YOU with everything YOU need?

Do YOU notice God's hand in things, when they work out, even when YOU were positive they wouldn't, because they weren't progressing the way YOU thought they should?

Do YOU recognize that everything YOU are, have been, will be, and possess are gifts from YOUR Heavenly Father?

Do YOU offer thanks to God for YOUR very being at all times?

"It is right to give Him thanks and praise!"

...and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Oh boy, this is where it gets really serious for us.

We are not just asking for God to forgive US; but rather for Him to forgive US in the same way that WE forgive OTHERS.

This might not be going so well for us, now!

How do YOU forgive?

Do YOU forgive easily?

Do YOU forgive everyone?

Do YOU only forgive YOUR family members?

Do YOU only forgive YOUR friends?

Do YOU only forgive YOURSELF?

Do YOU forgive anyone at all?

Do YOU forgive with no strings attached?

Do YOU hold a grudge until YOU can't even remember what the argument was about in the first place?

These are very important questions; because, when YOU pray: "and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..." YOU are telling God to forgive YOU in the way YOU do or don't forgive others.

When YOU pray those words do YOU picture those who have hurt YOU and offer forgiveness at the same time YOU are asking God to forgive YOU?

"To he who has been given much...much is expected!"

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...

These words are very simple, right?

Save us, Lord and keep the devil away from us!

But, what are YOU doing to help YOURSELF avoid temptation?

Do YOU squelch bad thoughts as soon as they come into your head?

Do YOU avoid situations and persons that always lead YOU to behave badly?

Or, do YOU just do what YOU want, when YOU want, how YOU want, and then pray feverishly for God to get YOU out of the mess YOU made?

If that's how YOU have been doing it...the question is...how has that been working for YOU?

Is it time for YOU to try a different way of doing things?

"Help me to avoid whatever leads me to sin."

...Amen.

When we say "Amen," we are really saying: "Yes, it is so!"

So, how about it?

Now that YOU know what YOU are really saying when YOU pray The Lord's Prayer, do YOU really believe it is so?